Cindy Crawford is “inconsolable” following the death of her son Presley Gerber, a source close to the family said.
The supermodel, 60, lost Presley, 27, on Sunday at a Santa Monica, California, rehab facility where he had checked in for treatment that same weekend, sources said. Emergency audio revealed Presley went into cardiac arrest and suffered an overdose, though an official cause of death has not yet been released.
More than a decade before this tragedy, Crawford had spoken about the unthinkable anguish of losing a child. In a 2010 interview, she reflected on her own mother’s resilience after Crawford’s younger brother Jeffrey died of leukemia at age 4, two years after his diagnosis.
“Growing up, I sometimes felt she should have been angry or outraged and she wasn’t,” Crawford said.
“She had a son that died. My dad [John Crawford] had an affair and they divorce. Those were painful things for her but they didn’t take away from her light as a person,” she continued.
“Now I’m a mom myself I’ve really come to appreciate her outlook on life. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child.
Crawford’s mother, Jennifer Sue Crawford-Moluf, became a central figure in her understanding of grief and perseverance. The supermodel said she grew closer to her mother through that childhood loss, watching her maintain her spirit despite profound hardship.
The former “House of Style” host shares Presley and daughter Kaia Gerber, 25, with husband Rande Gerber. The siblings were “more than just siblings,” according to the family source, and the bond between mother and son ran deep beyond public appearances.
“They were so close. What you saw online and in the press wasn’t just for that purpose. They were a tight-knit family and [sister] Kaia and Presley were more than just siblings. Cindy has to be beyond gutted,” the insider added.
“Cindy is inconsolable. She’s absolutely devastated. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, and the family is still trying to process everything that happened,” the source said.
Presley had pursued modeling like his mother and sister, walking runways and appearing in campaigns. His struggles with substance abuse had been documented publicly, including a 2019 DUI arrest and subsequent participation in a sober-living program.
The Gerber family has not issued a public statement since Presley’s death. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.